CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - Litton Marine Systems has been awarded a contract worth up to $5.2 million to supply ring laser gyrocompass systems for an entire class of U.S. Coast Guard medium endurance cutters.

The contract calls for Litton Marine to retrofit Sperry MK 39 MOD3A ring laser gyro systems on all of the USCG 270-ft. Famous Class medium-endurance cutters. The new-generation systems will replace the existing MK 29 spinning-mass gyrocompasses on the cutters. Deliveries will begin in 2000 and will continue over the next four years.

The MK39 MOD3A is an advanced ring laser gyro (RLG) inertial navigation system that provides continuous and automatic output of position, attitude, attitude rate, heading and velocity data. The third-generation system was developed by Litton Marine Systems in Charlottesville, Virginia, and is based on the Sperry Marine proven ring laser gyro system technology.

Litton Marine is the leading supplier of RLG technology for the U.S. Navy and international navies. The company is currently retrofitting the entire U.S. fleet of surface combatants and submarines with the new-generation AN/WSN-7 and AN/WSN-7B RLG inertial navigation systems under a multi-year program. Litton Marine has also supplied the exportable MK39 series RLG systems to most of the world's navies.

Litton Marine Systems Inc. (LMS) is a subsidiary of Litton Industries Inc. LMS was formed from the consolidation of Sperry Marine (Charlottesville, Virginia, USA), Decca Marine (New Malden, UK) and C. Plath (Hamburg, Germany). LMS manufactures and markets products under the Sperry, Decca and C. Plath brand names. With offices in 19 countries and authorized service depots in more than 300 locations worldwide, LMS provides "One Source" for marine navigation, communication and information systems, products and service.

Litton Industries, headquartered in Woodland Hills, California, is a $4.4 billion diversified technology company with over 40,000 employees worldwide. The company is a leader in navigation; guidance and control; electronic warfare; command, control and communications systems; information technology and shipbuilding and overhaul for government and commercial markets worldwide. Litton's Ingalls and Avondale shipyards together make up the largest builder of non-nuclear ships for the U.S. Navy and other customers.